Gap: Rolled Henley Sweater Review

This is Gap's Rolled Henley Sweater (style #635778), which retailed for $39.50. It was alpha-sized, and was available in a number of different colors, a couple of brights and some neutrals. I tried this on in a small, and found that it fits true-to-size, maybe even a bit large, depending on how you would want to wear it. If you're looking for a more fitted look and are on the smaller end of your size, you could consider sizing down in this sweater. If you want a looser, more casual look, then I'd start with your regular size and size down if necessary.

The sweater is made out of 100% cotton, and is a nice, soft knit. It's a nice, breathable fabric for a spring and summer sweater. The sweater itself is lightweight, and it is on the sheer side, at least in this color.

It's a pretty straightforward design - it has 3/4 sleeves, and fairly deep V-neck with buttons. There is a thin strip of trim on the front, faux-cuffs on the sleeves, and a rolled hem on both the sleeves and the bottom hem. Overall, a basic, but somewhat casual sweater.

I liked this sweater, but left it behind. I wasn't crazy about it, although I will say that it was super comfortable on.

What do you think? Do you like this sweater? Do you own it or have you tried it on?

J.Crew: Navy Ikat Print Cardigan Review

This is a new sweater from J.Crew that I'm calling the Navy Ikat Print Cardigan (item #16919), which retails for $88. It is available in this one color, navy, and is alpha-sized.

I tried this sweater on in a size small. I would say that it fits true-to-size, and is a fairly comfortable fit - not too tight, and not too loose. This sweater was almost long sleeved on me, so I think maybe it is supposed to be a three-quarter length sweater. The shape is a fairly standard cardigan shape, and doesn't create much waist definition.

The fabric itself is a lightweight cotton, I believe. It has a silkier texture than some of the other lightweight sweaters J.Crew has introduced this season. It is very smooth, and nice to the touch. It has a little bit of stretch to it, too.

As for the pattern, I think it is pretty, and definitely eye-catching. This isn't a sweater you could get away with wearing multiple days in a week, but because of the navy color, which is a darker navy, this sweater can easily be paired with a lot of different colors. However, it's also a pretty busy pattern, so I would mostly see this with simpler pieces.

I left this sweater behind because while I think the pattern is pretty, I don't think I would wear it that much. The pattern is a little too much for me on top, but that is just my personal taste. I think you could easily dress up or dress down this cardigan, depending on how you style it. Another reason I left this sweater behind is because of the price, especially knowing that I would hardly ever wear it.

What do you think? Do you like this sweater? Have you seen it or tried it on? Do you own it? What would you pair it with?

J.Crew: Lightweight Short-Sleeve Cardigan Review

This is a cardigan from J.Crew that I'm calling Lightweight Short-Sleeve Cardigan (item #16932), which retails for $49.50. I saw this in-store in this color, stone, and I don't recall seeing any other ones (but admittedly, I didn't really look for any). This sweater is alpha-sized. I tried this sweater on in a size small, in the stone color.

This sweater fit true-to-size, but I thought the fit itself was a bit weird. The buttons pulled at each other, and it almost looked like the sweater was too small if you were just to look at the buttons. I think this might have been a result of the fabric itself being so light and sort of clinging to the tee underneath.

The fabric is pretty leightweight, and I am pretty sure it is a cotton. The fabric is not as light as the featherweight cardigans with the jewel-like beads that were out earlier this season - the fabric is most like that of the Beaded Etoile Cardigan. It is very light and smooth, and will be very comfortable in the summer. Like other lightweight cotton cardigans, the fabric is fairly soft.

I think the color of this cardigan is a very nice neutral, and would work with pretty much any other color, so that is always nice.

The cardigan itself is a fairly standard short-sleeve cardigan, with small rib trim on the sleeves and the hem. This cardigan also has two small pockets on the front of the sweater, which also have small rib trim. I go back and forth on pockets on sweaters, but these are on the smaller side, and blend in very well with the rest of the sweater. As you can see in the picture below, the buttons were already pulling again by the time I got to this picture.

I think the design of the sweater is simple enough that it will work with many different outfits, and will work dressed up or dressed down. If you are in the market for a lightweight, simple, neutral sweater for the summer, this one is probably worth checking out, especially for the price.

I left this sweater behind because I was not on a buying trip. I wasn't a huge fan of the way the buttons pulled, but other than that, I liked this sweater. It is a nice, lightweight sweater that can be styled various ways, and is reasonably priced, especially for J.Crew.

What do you think? Do you like this sweater? Have you seen it or tried it on in-store? What other colors would you like to see this in?

J.Crew: Beaded Etoile Cardigan Review

This is J.Crew's Beaded Etoile Cardigan (item #15091), which retails for $88.  It is numerically sized, and is available in stone and papaya.  J.Crew describes the cardigan as such:

Light up the room in our silk chiffon and seed bead-appliquéd cardigan. It's perfectly lightweight in cotton in a 16-gauge knit. Fitted. Crewneck. Rib trim at neck, cuffs and hem. Short sleeves. Hits at hip. Import. Dry clean. Catalog/jcrew.com only.

Here is a the stock photo of the papaya color.

I ordered this sweater in a size small, in the papaya color.  I was really curious how this sweater would be in person.  First off, the color is not quite how it is depicted online.  The papaya color is a bit darker, and the beading is darker than the sweater (I think the beading looks a bit lighter than the sweater in the picture).

The cotton on this cardigan is really light and thin.  I was surprised that it was so light, but I think it works with the busy beadwork.  The sweater is about as light as the featherweight cotton cardigans (with the jewel-like buttons), but is silkier and smoother, in my opinion.  The sweater is also fairly sheer; I would definitely layer this sweater, and would not wear it without something underneath.

I believe that the sweater fits true-to-size, but I think it's a tad on the larger size in the body (not the sleeves).  The sweater was a tiny bit loose in places, but I wouldn't size down.  The sweater has a fairly straight line down, so I wouldn't look to this sweater to help create any waist definition.

As for the beading, I was really curious how this would look in real life.  Like I said earlier, the beadwork is darker than the color of the actual sweater, contrary to the stock photo.  The beadwork consists of allover tiny pieces of silk chiffon with a tiny bead accent.  I actually think the look is pretty cute.  The chiffon and beads are very small and delicate, so they don't weigh down or overhwhelm the rest of the sweater.

One thing I would note is that I think it is best to wear this sweater buttoned up.  In fact, when I started to unbutton this sweater and pull the sides apart, there was this almost tearing sound, as the sides separated from each other.  I inspected it very carefully, and there was definitely no damage - where the buttons meet, the sweater is lined with the silk chiffon beadwork all the way down, so this seemed to get stuck to the cotton.  While it looks okay open, I prefer it closed, because the pattern is so distinct.  Below is a close-up of the pattern.

I am keeping this sweater, because I think it is a very cute spring and summer sweater, and will work with so many different colors.  I'll be pairing this with simpler bottoms, to keep the outfit from being too busy.

What do you think?  Do you like this sweater?  Do you own it or have you tried it on?  Which color do you prefer?  What would you pair this sweater with?

J.Crew FO: 30% Off for Mother's Day

J.Crew Outlet is celebrating Mother's Day by offering you 30% off all cardigans, shorts, skirts, jewelry, and flip-flops.  This promotion is going on now through Wednesday, May 13th.  I am pretty tempted to swing by and take a look at what stuff they have out now.

What do you think?  Will you stop by your local outlet?  Do you think J.Crew will run a similar promo for Father's Day?

J.Crew: Soft Tee Cardigan Review

This is J.Crew's Soft Tee Cardigan (item #14945), which retails for $49.50.  It is alpha-sized, and comes in tropical palm, weathered stone, natural, papaya, black, navy, heather graphite, and warm blush.  It is also available in light pewter, but I don't see that color online.  J.Crew describes the cardigan as such:

A classic cardigan that's as soft as your most comfy broken-in tee. Pima cotton/lightweight Modal® rayon. Slim fit. V-neck. Long sleeves. Patch pockets. Hits at low hip. Import. Machine wash.

I tried this cardigan on in a size small, and it looked really big on the rack.  It fits pretty big in real life as well.  Looking at the model pictures, it looks like it's supposed to be on the looser, more casual side, but I think this much sizing discrepancy is a little ridiculous.  I would size down at least one size in this sweater - I didn't get a chance to (was sick of trying on clothes at this point), but I'd be curious if an XS would be too big, too.

I mean, honestly, look at how loose this cardigan is!  Instead of looking cute and casual, which I think was the intention, it comes across as sloppy and way too carefree.  The only place I think i would ever wear this is lazing around the house, when I'm not giving two figs about my appearance.

I will give this sweater a ton of points for being super nice and soft.  I know there are some who turn their noses up at manmade materials, but I am not one of them.  One of my favorite fabrics is probably rayon (nice, smooth rayon), and I also love Modal.  The sweater is on the lighter side, and it moves nicely.  I just don't think it's that flattering, even from the side.  It just sort of hangs there, and gapes.  It's also pretty long, and normally I don't mind that too much, but because it's so loose, I don't think the length works for me on this sweater.

I did not like this cardigan.  I think it is sad looking, and too unstructured to be so long, especially with those pockets.  I also felt like a grandma (actually a grandpa) wearing this, which is never a good thing.  I do think the sweater is a really nice, soft, lounge sweater, and would probably look great on others in the right size.

What do you think?  Do you like this sweater?  Have you seen it or tried it on?  What do you think of J.Crew's recent bunch of long, grandpa-like cardigans?

J.Crew: Watercolor Floral Pencil Skirt Styling

This was an outfit my PS and I came up with together when trying to style the Watercolor Floral skirt.  It is the Victoria Ruffle Cami in the dark grey color, layered underneath a Jackie cardigan in the new breeze color.  I love the way these colors work together.  Normally I would not have thought to pair the minty green breeze color with the colors in this skirt, but I think it looks nice.

What do you think?  Do you like this combination?  What colors would you pair with the Watercolor Floral pencil skirt?

J.Crew: Featherweight Cotton V-Neck Cardigan Review

So first off, notice the picture above.  This is the thumbnail view of J.Crew's Featherweight Cotton V-Neck Cardigan (item #14988).  Someone certainly got their cardigans mixed up.  The real sweater is below.

This cardigan retails for $59.50.  J.Crew describes this cardigan as such:

Fitted and extremely flattering, this versatile lightweight cardigan is smart dressing at its best. Made from cotton in a 16-gauge knit, we finished it with faux-crystal buttons for added detail and a subtle hint of embellishment. Fitted. V-neck. Rib trim at neck, cuffs and hem. Three-quarter sleeves. Hits at hip. Import. Machine wash.

It comes in a number of colors: black, breeze, navy, pale aloe, sea green, weathered stone, natural, dark persimmon, melon, light petunia, sweet fuchsia, amethyst, white, and spring daisy. (That's a lot of colors.  And a lot of creativity in the naming.)

This cardigan also comes in J.Crew's favorite spring pink, shell, but I don't see it online.  I tried this on in a small.

The cardigan is definitely featherweight - it is a pretty thin sweater, but the cotton is super soft.  It is not as drapey as the Georgia cardigan (probably because that cardigan has silk in it), and has a more fitted look, which I think is nice - I usually prefer fitted sweaters to shapeless ones.  I think the cardigan fits true-to-size.

I like the length of the cardigan - it hits around the hip, so it is long enough to be paired with longer tops, but still short enough so that it's not hugging your rear, and works as a layering piece.  The sleeves are not tight, which I also like.

This is a close up of the faux-crystal buttons.  They are all right, and didn't really sway my decision one way or another about this sweater.  I think they are a nice detail, but nothing super special.

As you can see, I tried this on with the Watercolor skirt and the Garland cami, and I have to say that I really like this outfit.  I did end up getting this sweater, as I think it's the perfect weight for when it's warm enough to go sleeveless, but for whatever reason, you prefer not to.

What do you think?  Do you like this sweater?  Which (of the many) colors would you get it in?  What do you think of the buttons?

J.Crew: Georgia Cardigan Review

This is J.Crew's Georgia Cardigan (item #15132).  It retails for $78, and comes in several colors: navy, warm shell, bistro orange, white, and stone.  It is alpha-sized.  J.Crew describes the cardigan as such:

This slightly sheer shawl-collar cardigan adds a look of laid-back luxury to any outfit. Silk/linen in a 14-gauge knit. Fitted. Long sleeves. Rib trim at cuffs and hem. Hits at hip. Import. Hand wash.

I tried this on in white.  It certainly is a "sheer" sweater, and I think a little more than slightly.  The sweater is extremely thin, and is nice and soft, but not as soft and smooth as the Sorbet-Stripe Cardigan.  The shawl collar was a cute touch, and added some nice detail to an otherwise boring sweater.

The sweater has really large buttons, and I'm not really a fan of the cardigan open, what with those gaping buttonholes and all.  The good thing about this cardigan is that because it is so light, it will work really well as a spring and summer cover-up, without being heavy, bulky, or uncomfortable.  It is also a good layering piece over longer tees.

Here is a blurry close-up of the big buttons.

I left this sweater behind because it was just okay for me.  Even though I'm always on the lookout for a cute white cardigan, this one just wasn't cute enough.

What do you think?  Do you like this sweater?  What color would you get it in?  Would you pay $78 for it?

J.Crew: New Arrivals & My Wishlist

J.Crew released their new arrivals to the website today.  They released a number of new pieces, some that I love, and some that I don't.  There are a couple of Collection pieces that I am super in love with, and have already e-mailed my online Personal Shopper about them!  Happily, they aren't ridiculously expensive, which is always nice.

Here are my wishlist pieces from the latest set of new arrivals.  The first three are the ones I'll be looking for during my trip to my local J.Crew tomorrow (I already have the first one on hold!).

This is the Watercolor Floral Pencil Skirt.  I love the pattern on this skirt, but the description says it's 24", so I'm hoping it won't be too long.

This is the Garden Dress.  I simply love the petals on the bodice, but I'm really interested to see how this dress fits IRL, as it seems to be a tad shapeless on the model.  The Boyfriend hasn't seen this dress yet, but I can almost guarantee he will say it looks like a nightgown.

The Boyfriend will probably also make fun of the Bouquet Sash Belt, but I think it's whimsical and feminine.  Plus I love flowers!

These next pieces are ones that I will wait for to go on sale.

I love the Cashmere Croquet Cardigan.  I love love love these shades of purple, especially the contrasting shades.  I'm not as crazy about all those pockets, and I'm especially not crazy about the price.

I already have the Solid Silk Garland Cami in breeze, but I love this purple color (I love pretty much all light purples).

This is the Embossed-Cotton Printed Lorelei Dress.  I love this shade of green as well as the print, but I have a ton of dresses!

I love the Harbour Oxford Capri pants, but they have a 26.5" inseam, which is about half an inch to an inch too short for me, so I'd have to have them hemmed to get them to be true capris.  I would definitely want to see this in person.

I love these Floral Sparkle Earrings.  They seem like they could really dress up an outfit, while still being casual and cute.

I also love this Crystal-Flower Ring.  As I've mentioned, I love flowers, and I think this ring is super cute.

So what do you think? Do you like J.Crew's new arrivals?